In 1932 the First National Bank of Boise, with nine affiliated banks in Southern Idaho, went out of business.
During the 1920s the Meadows Valley Bank experienced hard times, but manager George. S. Mitchell was able to keep its doors open. But by 1932, the Great Depression took its toll; the bank closed in January of that year.
Like postmasters all across the nation, Council Postmaster George Prout faced a dilemma. He dealt with thousands of dollars worth of money orders, checks written on Meadows Valley Bank accounts, along with other monetary postal transactions. It’s not clear how the Post Office Department handled such things, but you can bet it was a serious crisis.
Fortunately, because the Meadows Valley Bank closed while still solvent, the bank eventually returned 100% of the money to its depositors plus 5% interest. Blake Hancock, proprietor of a general merchandise store in New Meadows, was a principal depositor.
Adams County Leader, Sept 20, 1935: The New Meadows Post office has been in same place for 23 years, and now has move to the “front and corner room of the same building which was the home of the Meadows Valley bank.”
In a letter written in 1938, John D. Neale wrote: “When I first went to Council (about 1910) there were two banks there and another two in Meadows 30 mi. north. There were four banks in Weiser (in another county) and one at Midvale and one at Cambridge—10 banks in the two counties. During the hard days they all closed for failed. Now, there is one bank here in Weiser which is now the only bank in the two counties.”
By the end of 1939 President Roosevelt’s New Deal policies had evidently made enough progress that a new bank, the Adams County Bank, was preparing to open in Council in the building that had been built for the First Bank of Council (106 Illinois Ave.). At that time it was being used by the Howell Co. as a furniture display room. The Leader said a doorway had been cut through the concrete wall “to allow entrance from the store,” and it would now be closed off again. The bank opened by the end of January, 1940.
The Adams County Bank changed locations in the summer of 1941 after a new building was erected. This was the building that, until it burned in October of last year, housed the old Council Valley Market (202 Illinois Ave.). A new Golden Rule store occupied one half of the building.
When the Adams County Bank abandoned the old First Bank of Council building (106 Illinois Ave.) it left behind the bank vault. At some point the vault was torn out and the heavy vault door was moved next door to 108 Illinois Avenue where it remains today.
In 1946 Idaho First National Bank bought the Adams County Bank and retained the location in the Golden Rule Store building. The first Idaho First National Bank had been established in Boise in 1867. By 1951, it had 19 offices in the state.
In the spring of 1951 Idaho First National Bank in Council moved into a new location in what had been an annex to the Merit Store (now M&W Market), at the west end of the building. This 48’ X 81’ annex had been built in 1941 and was originally to be for a meat market and cold storage.
The Leader said: “The quarters have been completely remodeled and furnished to provide increased convenience for both customers and employees. The new office boasts more than twice the floor space of the bank’s former quarters, enlarged customer lobby and counter space, a new vault for securities, records and safe deposit boxes, and a private booth for use by safe deposit customers.”
Continued next week.
I will be giving another history presentation at the New Meadows depot on January 14 at 7:00 p.m..
100 years ago
January 9, 1925
“Most of the larger ice houses of the village have been filled at this writing. There are still some of the smaller houses to fill and another week should see them all packed for next summer’s use.”
“E. E. McGinness of this place and Alex Houlahan of Brownlee, left Monday for Boise to confer with the pardon board relative to the discharge of Dan Ruth. It will be remembered that Ruth killed Tom Cavanaugh, a neighbor, some years ago and was sentenced, on his plead of guilty, to surve a life imprisonment. At the time he was sentenced he made threats against the lives of several who helped to obtain the evidence against him. It is the belief of many who know the man and his history that he is playing a cool, calculating, game and that, should he be released, he will become a menace. The history of the murder is revolting in its methodical, painstaking and gruesome details. Those who are familiar with the case think Ruth is capable of anything should he become at liberty, as they believe him abnormal and of a character that does not yield to chastisement or any influences for improvement. The petition for a pardon has caused a great deal of dissatisfaction here and sentiment seems to be in favor of detaining the man to the full end of his sentence, according to reports we hear. The hearing was held, the evidence heard, and the petition for pardon was refused by the board.”
Died: Little Harvey Dallas Howell, son of Mister and Mrs. A. E. Howell of Grizzly Creek. Little Harvey was born December 1, 1921 and was just a few days past three years old. Burial in the Cambridge Cemetery.
75 years ago
January 5, 1950
The front page contained a list of all the births, weddings and deaths during the previous year. Later in the issue there was a summation of news during the past year.
A daughter named Vicki Irene was born January 1 to Mr. and Mrs. Pryor Legg at the Ontario hospital.
49 years ago
January 1, 1976
Advertisement: Live music every Friday and Saturday night at the Branding Iron, Cambridge.
A daughter named Amy Jean was born December 29 Mr. and Mrs. Ron Robbins.
25 years ago
January 6, 2000
Died: Julie Josephine “Jo” Bitner, 80, Midvale.
Died: Dwayne Baker “Bud” Anderson, 64, of Pine Ridge, formerly of Midvale.
Died: Esther Deakins, 96, of Indian Valley. She and her husband, Charles, had a ranch at Midvale for 20 years.
Died: Margaret Shaw, 85, New Meadows. She was born in 1914 in Indian Valley, one of four daughters of Charles and Edith Jackson. She married Irvie Shaw 1932 and they ranched at Indian Valley and Council.
